Antirefill device



H. A; FISHER L ,2,378,919I

.ANTIREFILL DEVICE Filed April 13, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l June-26, 1945'.

June26,1945. H A.F|SHER Y2,378,919

^ ANTIREFILL DEVICE Filed April 1s, 1945 :s sheets-sheet 3 Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.`

` 2,378,919 Y ANTInEmL DEVICE Henry A. Fisher,` Parkersburg, W. Va. Application April 13, 1943,v Serial No. 482,918

This invention relates toanti-reiill units for necked containers such as bottles.`

The units according to the invention prefer-` The principal object of the invention is to provide an anti-rell device which may be cheaply constructed and yet` in use will effectively oppose any attempt to reiill the container. Practical embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings with reference to which the description will proceed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an at present preferred embodiment of the invention in elevation neck which is shown in axial section. t

Figure 2 is an axial section of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 2a is an enlargement of the lower portion of the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 3 is an axial section of a core portion which appears in Figures 1` and 2.

Figure 4 isa plan view of the coreportion of Figure 3. p

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3. t Figure 6 is a bottom plan view ofthe core portion `of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an axial section of a modified form of core portion.

Figure 8 is a-plan view of the core portion of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a section'on line 9-9 of Figure '7. Y1'?igure 10 is a bottom tion of Figure 9.

Figure l1 is an axial section of anothermodi ied form of core portion. t

Figure 12 is a plan view of the core portion of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section on line |3,-|3 lof` Figure 11. l t

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the core portion ,of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is an elevation `of a further form of device in accordance with the invention. i

Figure`16 is an axial section of the device of Figure 15. 1 1

in a benne plan view of the core por- 3011 3| rises an outwardly flared annular fin 32 which 2o claims. (ciels-'21) devices or Figure 17 isa plan view of the device of Figure 15. 1 1

Figure 18 is a section online `|8| 8 of Figure15.

Figure 19 is a section on line |9|9 of Figure 15. t

Figure 20 is an elevation of a cage or barrel portion forming part of the device of Figure 15.

Figure 21 is a bottom of Figure 15, and

Figure`22 is a bottom plan view of a core portion forming a part of the device of Figure 15.14

Referring to the drawings, and rst to Figures 1 to 6, reference numeral 25 designates a bottle having a neck 25 here shown as provided with a unit, in accordance with-the invention, operatively positioned in the neck. `As here shown, the unit 28`comprises a core portion 29 anda cage or barrel portion 30. t

The core portion 29 includes a circular top wall 3| of appreciably smaller diameter than that of the neck and from the' top margins of the wall is outwardly or upwardly tapered to a ne edge 33, the diameter of this edge being somewhat greater than that of the maximum tolerance encounterable in the neck. `Beneath the fin 32 wall 3| has an annularrabbet 34.

Projecting downwardly from wall 3| is a shank or stem 35 formed at its lower portion as a guard or baille means in the form of an inverted cup 36`having imperforate cylindrical walls coaxial with wall 3|. Around its center, wall 3| is provided, as here shown, with six equal `openings 31 which are equally spacedand arranged. on a circle on the center of wall 3|. I'hese openings are continued downwardly in axially extending grooves 38 in the shank 35, these grooves lying between axially extending ribs 39 which serve as reinforcements. The grooves 38 terminate downwardly at a ledge constituting the top of the cup 36. Above the top of the cup and communicating therewith is an axial ,cavity 4.0, and radial the latter has the larger diameter and it is into `this lower'portion that theopenings 4| connect. s

plan View `of the device As here shown the cavity is a valve seat 44 here shown as sphericallydished so as to mate with `the valve ball 45 whereby the opening 46 is sealed when the unit is in the upl and the latter are so positioned relative to the right position illustrated. Above the seat 44 is an outwardly ared annular wall 41 which is provided with one or more annular grooves '48.

. As here shtwn, the wall 41 is that of an inverted.

truncated cone whose elements are at about a angle to its altitude. Grooves43 are of angular cross section and their outer walls 49 are substantially cylindrical on the axis of the barrel while their inner 'walls lill` are conical yand meet the outer walls at an angle of about 30. The diameter of ball 45 is such that it isl-receivable with a free running t in the cup 36 and the flower edge of the cup is close enough to the seat 44 so that when the device is tilted to unseat the ball, the ball will loe-guided into the cup.

At its lower end thebarrel 30 has an angular external enlargement 5I whose apical line 52 has a diameter very slightly larger than that of the maximum tolerance encounterable in the bottle neck and the enlargement is provided with a number of equally spaced axially yextending slitsl The thus constituted unit is pushed into the bottle neck substantially to the position shown in Figure l by the use vof any suitable tool. The lip 32 is -circumferentially contractible, but `so resistant to contraction and of such diameter as to tightly engage thecontainer neck when pushed therein. Whatever the force necessary to push the unit into the neck, due tothe wedging effect of the na considerably 'greater force will be required to extract it, and the fin will ordinarily be broken if the attempt ismade. l The frictional resistance of the lin is determined by the resiliency ofthe material, overall diameter of lthe iin in relation to the inner diameter of the neck, and its thickness. The 1in seals off the neck in to the wall3l. t r

Resistance is valso v offered bythe enlargement 5I., this being constricted .somewhat upon insertion as permitted by the slits 5 3. The principal purpose lof the enlargement is to maintain the coaxial relationship of the device in the bottle neck. K Its sealing effect is sufficient to prevent the trapping of liquid in the spacebetween the cylindrical `portion 42 and the neck. `Even in the .absence of a seal at this point, the imperforate side walls of the barrel servel to seal off the neck in to the seat 44. l r

When innormal use the bottle, equipped with the device, is tilted; the ball 45 will roll into the cup 3.6 and the liquid will flow through `the space 43 and the pouring openings `31. The ball 45 will seat against the lower edge of cavity 40 and the suction effect exerted through openings 4l will tend to hold the ball in this position. This holding effect I have found to be improved when the cavity 40 is of relatively large depth, as shown.

When the bottle .is righted, the ball reseats and itvwill be evident that due to the overlying position of the cup 36, it will be practically lin'ipossble to displace the ball byvmeans of an instrument inserted-through anopen'ing 31; The cup is of seated ball as to direct a splash against the lat-v ter above its maximum diameter so that the splash exerts a seating effect on the ball. This latter feature., while particularly useful in antirefill devices, is of application in valves .for other uses.

It will be seen that the body of the described unit can be readily made in two parts by injecvmolding and requires relatively little material while being adequately strong for its intended purpose, However, the assembly is still sufficiently fragile so that an attempt to remove it will ordinarily result in breakage. y

In molding the core which has been described, it is necessary to provide radial pins in-order to form the 'passages 4l. This necessity is avoided in theembodiments .shown in Figures A'1 to l0, 11 kto 14 and 15 to 2?.k

Referring to Figures 7 to l0, the core 29a is like the core 29 except that the openings 41a extend axially through the top of cup .36a instead of radially into the cavity 40a. The openings 4la are formed in the lower portions of the ribs `33d and have `a diameter greater than the thickness of the ribs so as to provide a slot on each vvside of each rib. These openings, as before, eliminate any 4cushion effect which might otherwise .tend to impede the movement of the ball into the cup, and. during pouring a suction effect is exerted through them which tends to holdthe ball in the cup.

The core v29h of Figures 1l to 14 is like that just A described except that it is even more easily molded in view of the fact that the openings 411) are formed in the top of the cup 36h-as downward continuations of the grooves 38h. The baille provisions are thus not so effective as those of the previously described embodiment, but the effect on the ball is the same as in the second embodiment.

In Figures 15 to 272, reference numeral 23o designates the core, and reference numeral 30e the barrel or cage. In this embodiment the cup or guard 36e has spaced apart sidewall portions. Three such segmental Aportionsof equal arc and equally spaced apart are show'n, the axially extending edges of the yportions being parallel. Where these portions occur, the top wall of the guard `is provided with axially extending openings 4Ic beneaththe grooves 38e. The alternate grooves 38o run downwardly into the spaces between the side wall portions 36e.

The barrel 30e also has spaced apart side wall portions carrying a ring Elcwhich denes the valve seat and is of angular outer section to provide an apical line 52e having `a diameter such It will be understood that while I have described several embodiments of the invention by way of example, other embodimentsare possible and are contemplated under the claims which follow. Iclaimz" 1. An anti-refill device insertable inthe neck nf a necked container, a said device includinga tively positioned in the neck.

`2. A device according to claim llwherein said` side wall portions constitute a peripherally con-` tinuous Wall. 3 3. A device according to claim 1 vwherein an core portion and a barrel lportionsecured together as a unit, said corel portion including a circular top wall and the barrel portion including a valve seat spaced below said top wall and a cage portion extending between said seat and said top wall, a guard supported from the center of said top wall and extending toward said seat,

said guard including circularly arranged side Wall portions terminating short of said seat and spaced from said cage portion, a ball normally engaging said seat but movable into said guard upon tilting of said device, said top wall having pouring openingsl arranged around its center and communicating` with the space between said cage por-` tionand guard, an annular outwardlyflaring resilient lip integral with said top wall and adapted to frictionally engage the interior wall of the container neck and to close :off the latter into saidv top wall, and means for closing oi the container neck into said seat when the device is opening connects said space with fthe top interior of said guard.

` operaly laring resilient lip integral with said top walls and adapted to frictionally engage the interior wall of the container neck and to close off `the `latter in to said top wall, and means for closing off the container neck in to said seat `when the device is operatively positioned in the neck.

. 11. A device according to claim wherein an opening connects said space with the top interior of said cup.

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein an upwardly closed cavity of reduced cross section is provided in communication with the` top cen- 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said side wall portions constitute a peripherally continuous wall, and wherein an opening connects said space `with the top interior of said guard.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein an upwardly closed cavityofreduced' cross section is provided in communication with the top center of the guard interior,`and wherein an opening connects said space and said cavity.

6. `A `device according to claim 1 wherein an upwardly closed cavity of reduced cross section is provided in communicationwith the top center of the guard interior, wherein an opening connects said space and said cavity, and wherein the lower edge of said cavity constitutes a seatcoi operative with said ball when the latter is fully displaced from normal position.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the side wall portions are spaced apart.

,8. A device according to claim 1 `wherein an upwardly closed cavity of reduced cross section is provided in communicationwith the top center of the guard interior, and wherein a radial opening connects said space and said cavity.

9. A device according to claim l wherein an upwardly closed cavity of reduced cross section is provided in communication with the top center of'the guard interior, and wherein` an axially cavity. l

10.`An anti-rell device insertable in the neck of` a necked container, said device including a core portion and a barrel portion `secured together as a unit, said core portion including a circular top wall and the barrel portion includter of the cup interior, and wherein an opening connects said space and said cavity.

13. A device according to claim 10 wherein an upwardly closed cavity of reduced cross section is provided in communication with the top center of the cup interior, wherein an opening connects said space and said cavity, and wherein the lower edge of said cavity constitutes a seat cooperative l with said ball when the latter is from normal position.

l 14. A device according to claim 10 wherein an fully `displaced .upwardly closed cavity of `reduced cross section is provided in communication with the top center l of the cup interior,` and wherein a radial opening connects said space andsad cavity. s

15. A device according to claim 10` wherein an upwardly closed cavity of reduced cross section is provided in communication with the top center of the cup interior, and wherein an axially extending opening connects said cavity.

16. An anti-refill device insertablein the neck of a necked container, said device comprising a l valve seat, a ball cooperative with said` seat, an

upwardly daring annular wall above said seatand an `annular `groove in 'said wall so disposed as to` direct a splash of incoming liquid against the u seated ball above the maximum diameter thereof.

`extending opening connects said space and said 17. A device according to claim lwherein said l groove is of angular cross section and has a substantially cylindrical outer wall and an inner conical wall at an angle of about 30 .tosaid cylindricalwall. l l

18. A device according to claim 16 including means dening an annular passage above sai groove for incoming liquid. 19. A valve comprising a seat, a ball coopera-V l tive with said seat, an outwardly flaring annular wall above said seat, an annular groove in said "wall, and means for directing liquid into said ing a valve seat spaced below said top wall and l a cage portion extending between said seat and said top wall, a guard in the form of aninverted cup supported from the center of said top wall l and extending toward said seat, the peripheral wall of said cup terminating short of said seat and being spaced from said cage portion,l aball groove, the latter being so disposed as to direct a splash of the liquid against the seated ball above the maximum diameter thereof.

20. A device accordingto claim 19 wherein `said grooveis of angular cross section and has `a substantially cylindrical outer wall `and .an inner conical` wall at an angle of about 30 to said cylindrical wall. l

l l HENRY A. l'ISI-IER.`

space and said 

